Dramatic Rally Sends Rend Lake to National Semi-Finals

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WSIL Sports

DANVILLE -- Trailing by 23 with ten minutes to go, Rend Lake's dream of a Division II National Championship was slipping away.

The Warriors had South Suburban right where they wanted them.

Rend Lake turned up the dial defensively, and the Bulldogs melted down the stretch. The Warriors tied the game at 75 and nearly won it at the end of regulation when Dawson Verhines' 60-footer rimmed out at the buzzer.

After falling behind by four in overtime, the Warriors rallied again to tie it, and took the lead on two Jeril Taylor free throws with five seconds to play.

Verhines blocked a potential game winning three point attempt as time expired to preserve an incredible 85-83 overtime win.

The Warriors will take Thursday off. They will face Owens Community College out of Ohio Friday night at 6:00. The winner will advance to Saturday night's championship game.